THE POLITICAL ECOLOGY OF ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS IN ACCRA, GHANA

Abstract

The paper explored how governmental policies influence human vulnerability to environmental hazards. The main objective was to examine how economic and political processes impact on the choices households and communities make to mitigate flood hazards. The units of analysis were the household and community. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed. The analysis shows the implementation of some development strategies, its consequential environmental degradation, and the marginalization of some groups increased the impact of disasters. Also, disaster impact has increased because of the lack of consistent government policy on vulnerability reduction. Furthermore, the analysis revealed a lack of flexibility of social networks to assist households in the aftermath of floods. The paper concludes that much of Accra’s current land use patterns and socio-economic characteristics can be traced to the past. Failure to address the problems rooted in history has limited householder and community options for reducing vulnerability to environmental hazards.

Keywords: Floods, Disasters, Vulnerability, Political Ecology, Ghana